Building Sandcastles

After a mugging and near death experience, Leo Gorgan realizes the only thing he has in New York City is business contacts. He decides to take a year off and travel the country. When a needed repair on his motorhome lands him in Destiny, Iowa, Leo has no idea the ruggedly handsome man at the hardware store will be able to fix more than his leaky faucet.

William “Tank” Borsoiv loves his life. The farm he owns is enough to feed his soul, but not enough to make ends meet. Working at the hardware store has always bridged the gap financially, but it also allows Tank to interact with the townspeople. When a stranger with dark red hair enters the store, Tank’s body takes notice.

Tank knows Leo has a life in New York he’ll eventually go back to, but he won’t let that stop him from entering into the hottest relationship he’s ever experienced. Loving Leo may come with a price, but Tank will gladly pay the debt.

Excerpt

As requested, Leo met Tank in the parking lot of the town’s grocery store. He’d offered to pick up the needed supplies for dinner before Tank got off work, but Tank had refused the offer.

Watching Tank cross the distance between them, Leo couldn’t shake the feeling he’d seen Tank before. The moment Leo laid eyes on Tank, he felt an instant connection, something he’d never felt with another man.

“Hey,” Tank greeted Leo with a quick kiss.

Leo glanced around, surprised at the public display of affection. There were a few people around, but not one of them bent to pick up a stone to throw at them.

Beside him, Tank chuckled. “Relax. The town may be small, but they’ve gotten used to me.”

Although he’d just met Tank, the remark felt like a quick punch in the gut. “So, you do this kind of thing all the time?”

“No!” Tank shook his head. “I had a boyfriend a couple of years ago. They did all their staring then.” He bent to whisper in Leo’s ear. “They like to think they’re very cosmopolitan now. Shhh, don’t tell them that accepting us just makes them better people.”

Leo smiled up at Tank. “It’s nice that you can be yourself here. I was worried. You read a lot about intolerance in small towns.”

Tank pulled a cart out of the rack and headed toward the produce aisle. “Oh, I didn’t say everyone accepted me, but I like to think I’ve proven myself enough in most people’s eyes.”

Leo followed Tank around the store. It amused him the way Tank nodded and spoke briefly to others as he passed them. “Is this a thing around here? I had three people wave at me today. The first time it happened, I spun around, thinking there was someone behind me. By the time I realized they were waving at me, they were already gone.”

Tank pulled two roasted chickens out of the warmer and put them in the cart. “Another perk of small-town living. You’ll get used to it.”

Leo doubted he’d be in town long enough to become accustomed to complete strangers wishing him a good day. His attraction to Tank was undeniable, but he had to go back to New York at some point, and he still had half a country to see.

“I think that does it,” Tank remarked, heading for the checkout counter.

“Here, use this.” Leo held out a hundred-dollar bill. Tank shook his head. “Thanks, but I got it.” It wasn’t often that Leo offered someone money, so

he wasn’t sure how to react at the rejection. He squeezed by Tank and took up position at the end of the counter, ready to bag the items after they were scanned.

“Excuse me, sir,” a teenager with acne said.

Leo stepped aside and watched the young man efficiently place the items into the reusable sacks Tank brought with him.

“These go in a separate sack,” Tank told the cashier, indicating the break in the line of groceries.

Leo had no idea what the difference was, but didn’t want to make a fool of himself by asking in front of the cashier and sack boy. He glanced back at the teenager once again. The boy had to know Tank was gay, yet he looked at the bigger man with a combination of friendliness and hero worship.

“Thanks, Sharon,” Tank said, taking his change. He watched as the last of the groceries were put into bags. “You playing baseball in the spring, Carl?”

“Yes, sir. Coach Wilton thinks it’ll be a good way to keep me in shape for football.”

“He’s right, but then again, Coach is always right.” He slapped Carl on the back before leaving the checkout counter.

Leo followed Tank out of the store. “Why the two different bags?”

Tank stopped at his truck and began unloading the cart. “I need to make a quick stop on the way home. Hope you don’t mind. It shouldn’t take but a minute.”

Leo placed three sacks in the back of Tank’s truck. “Seems like a lot of groceries for no more than you paid.”

“Guess you just have to make wise decisions.” Tank held up a box of Twinkies. “My one and only splurge every shopping trip. As long as I give myself permission to buy a box of these, I can stick tight to the rest of the list without being tempted to add to it.”

Indulging himself with everything he desired had become a way of life for Leo. Of course, it hadn’t always been that way. He’d grown up in the Bronx, one of four sons. His father had been a diehard fisherman until he died of a heart attack when Leo was barely fifteen. The money coming into the household sucked, but Leo’s father refused to take another job, claiming he was born to work on a boat.

Leo’s three older brothers had carried on in their father’s footsteps, knowing what kind of life they would be able to eke out of the ocean. It hadn’t made sense to Leo. He was determined to go to college and make something of himself, and he had.

“You still with me?” Tank asked, interrupting Leo’s thoughts.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” “I asked if you wanted to just ride with me.” Leo glanced at the expensive motorhome.

“I’d rather follow you. I’d hate to leave it out here all night.” Tank gave Leo another of those quick, but deadly, kisses. “I like the sound of all night.” He opened the driver’s door. “Let’s go.”